“There have been several injuries to children caused from litter here on the Fylde coast, and the RSPCA receives 14 calls a day across the UK about animals affected by litter; it’s not hard to see it doesn’t belong on the beach.”

The Government recently committed the UK to eliminating all avoidable plastic waste by 2042 in an effort to reduce the amount of non-recyclable plastic reaching landfill and also to prevent it entering the sea.

Under the pledge, waste such as carrier bags, food packaging and disposable plastic straws would be abolished. During its recent Great British Beach Clean Up, the Marine Conservation Society found 718 pieces of litter for every 100 metre stretch of beach surveyed, and of this, rubbish from food and drink made up at least one fifth.

The Fleetwood group’s next clean up is on Saturday with additional events scheduled on February 17 and March 17. Volunteers can meet at the Lower Light House on the Esplanade in Fleetwood opposite the North Euston Hotel, at 10.30am.